Bright, bold and 100% Houston: New art greets international travelers at IAH

Passengers arriving from around the world now get a first glimpse of Houston through a lens of pure color and unmistakable personality.

Houston Airports, in collaboration with self-proclaimed Houstorian James Glassman, has unveiled H-Tones, a new art installation that turns a 660-foot-long International Arrivals hallway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) into a gallery of Houston pride.

The work features 32 translucent panels in the style of Pantone color swatches, each one uniquely created and named by Glassman to capture the city’s history, culture, flavors and flair. The lineup includes Rodeo, Bayou and Armadillo — all part of a palette that reads like Houston’s own color dictionary.

Strategically installed along the windows of the secured hallway guiding international passengers from Terminal D toward the U.S. Customs and Border Protection federal inspection area, H-Tones comes alive in the natural light. The placement ensures that the very first steps of arriving travelers are infused with a sense of place and a welcome as vibrant as Houston itself.

“This installation greets the world with the colors of Houston,” said Alton DuLaney, chief curator of cultural affairs for the City of Houston. “Each panel is a brushstroke of our city’s personality, from trail greens to taco reds, and together they create an unforgettable first impression. As Houston prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, H-Tones reflects our creative energy and the airport's role as a global gateway.”

For DuLaney, the impact goes beyond aesthetics. “Public art in airports is about more than beauty,” he said. “It’s about storytelling. It’s about showing travelers who we are and what we value. Our shared culture is as colorful as it is welcoming.”

Glassman spent months researching, refining and naming each hue—a process equal parts design and history lesson. Some colors, like Queen B and Clutch City, nod to pop culture and sports legends. Others, such as Memorial Park or Turrell Tunnel, draw from Houston landmarks. Still others — Queso, Green Sauce, Vietnamese Coffee — celebrate the city’s culinary range.

“This project celebrates the soul of Houston in a way that’s playful, memorable and impossible to miss,” DuLaney said.